Fort Lauderdale's Summer Restaurant Scene Is Stacked, Here's What's Opening

Fort Lauderdale's dining scene is expanding fast this summer, with several buzzed-about restaurants from Miami opening their first Broward County locations. New arrivals include Skinny Louie (Las Olas), Hula Kai Tiki Bar (17th Street Causeway), Little Hen (Las Olas), and Peppi's Pizza (Sunrise Blvd). The MPH Team, led by Lourdes Maestres, tracks Fort Lauderdale's neighborhood and lifestyle scene as part of guiding clients on what makes each part of the city worth living in.

Summer in Fort Lauderdale already comes with a lot going for it. The beach. The boat days. The golden hour on the Intracoastal. And this year, the dining scene is matching that energy in a big way.

A wave of new restaurants is hitting Broward County this summer, and not just filler spots filling empty strip mall slots. These are concepts that have built real buzz elsewhere, now landing in Fort Lauderdale for the first time. Here's what's coming.

Skinny Louie Is Bringing Miami's Viral Smash Burger to Las Olas

Skinny Louie built a cult following in Wynwood before expanding across Miami-Dade, and won the Burger Bash at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, the city's biggest food event. Now they're opening on Las Olas Boulevard, adding a standout smash burger to one of Fort Lauderdale's busiest dining strips.

Hula Kai Tiki Bar Is What 17th Street Causeway Has Been Missing

A two-story tiki bar on the 17th Street Causeway (1075 SE 17th St.) from the owner of Quarterdeck, featuring:

• Flaming drinks
• Pan-Asian plates including crispy duck, crab Rangoon, bang bang shrimp, and spring rolls
• Waterfront energy close to the marina and beach

Little Hen Is About to Make Las Olas Brunch Very Different

Little Hen has a devoted following in Miami and Weston for its English-inspired brunch, rose petal pancakes, and afternoon tea service. The Las Olas location (1201 E. Las Olas Blvd., former Planta Queen space) will include:

• A 190-seat full-service restaurant
• 42 outdoor seats
• One of the biggest new dining destinations to hit Las Olas in years

An opening date hasn't been locked in yet, but it's expected this summer.

Peppi's Pizza Is Finally Coming North

Peppi's Pizza is a Miami original known for New York-style slices and a featured stamp of approval from Dave Portnoy's One Bite pizza review series. Their first Broward County location is opening at 1900 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.

Why This Matters for Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has been on a genuine upswing as a dining destination for the past few years, and summer 2026 is a clear signal of where things are headed. When brands that built name recognition in Miami choose Fort Lauderdale for their next location, it says something about how the city is perceived: not a backup plan, but a market these brands want to be in.

That's the version of Fort Lauderdale worth talking about: real waterfront access, real neighborhood character, and now a dining scene that can hold its own. Whether you've lived here for years or you're thinking about making a move, the summer 2026 lineup is a good reason to be paying attention to what's happening on Las Olas, on 17th Street, and across Broward County right now.

If you're thinking about relocating to Fort Lauderdale or want to know more about what life actually looks like in this city, the MPH Team is here to talk. Reach out and let's connect.